Weetzie Bat

Written by Francesca Lia Block

Narrated by Alyssa Bresnahan

Lanky lizards and rubber chickens, slinkster dogs and Lanka girls-Weetzie Bat knows them all in the glitzy never-never land of L.A. With her blonde flat-top and trendy clothes, Weetzie Bat cruises from high school to neon clubs, looking for her Secret Agent Lover Man. When she meets dark-haired Dirk and his red Pontiac, their search for love is a funky, off-beat fable. And when three wishes come true, their adventures create a modern fairy tale. Weetzie Bat has been chosen for school reading lists across the nation. It is an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and an ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. Alyssa Bresnahan's spirited narration highlights the sparkling language and sizzling images of this utterly original book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781470354374

Francesca Lia Block

Francesca Lia Block, winner of the prestigious Margaret A. Edwards Award, is the author of many acclaimed and bestselling books, including Weetzie Bat; the book collections Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat Books and Roses and Bones: Myths, Tales, and Secrets; the illustrated novella House of Dolls; the vampire romance novel Pretty Dead; and the gothic werewolf novel The Frenzy. Her work is published around the world.

Reviews for Weetzie Bat

[Monica Cedeno · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it when i was a teen n read it. I listened to the audiobook this week and, yeah, its so so good. I wish the whole Dangerous Angels was an audiobook. Love is a dangerous angel.

[rin.wilson · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This was required reading for me, and I often enjoy whimsical writing and fairy tales, but this one didn't do much for me. There's very little detail about what the characters are thinking or who they are outside the context of their role in the story. Weetzie hangs out with Dirk avoiding the lame high school kids who don't understand them, and when she finds a genie in a bottle she wishes for a boyfriend for herself, one for Dirk, and a place to live. She gets all three, but when her boyfriend doesn't want to have a baby with her, she resorts to some unusual means to get one. I also thought that Weetzie didn't reflect on or learn from any of the things that happened to her or the choices she made. The characters go through very little, if any, character development, and when they make questionable decisions or life throws hurdles at them, a magic solution appears out of this air or the problem goes away. No one has to do or learn anything. Would Weetzie make the same manipulative choices if she and her boyfriend disagreed on something other than child rearing? Nothing tells me she wouldn't. I usually like stories that have a fairy-tale quality, magical realism and themes of love and a makeshift family, but this one was not for me. The message of this book, love your friends and everything will turn out exactly how you want, seems guaranteed to disappoint.

[pwilley_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Finally the right story for hard-working reader Alyssa Bresnahan. Her dry voice applies itself to Weetzie's sparkling thoughts and the effect is like Champagne and Pop Rocks.

[rarewren · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My VOYA rating: 4Q ("Better than most, marred by occasional lapses") and 3P ("Will appeal with pushing"). The writing quality was a cut above, its heightened pace and style maintained with admirable consistency and lagging in only a few spots. I would not expect its extraordinary style to have universal appeal. With some encouragement, however, and fair warning about the magical and realistic veins of its magical realism, young adults from many walks of life could connect with this novella.

[widdersyns · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I didn't like this book as much as I was expecting to. I appreciate the way the prose flows and the weird metaphors and the magical realism. But everything just happened SO FAST. Weetzie and Dirk are in high school at the beginning, right? How old are they at the end? When did they stop going to school? Did they graduate or what? The timeframe is so vague and years pass in a matter of pages. It's not necessarily a bad way to write a book, just not really to my taste.

[morgandax · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I didn't get past chapter 3 or 4 in this book, but it's super short so that doesn't mean I didn't read enough to get an idea of style and story.

I heard good things about it and that is was nonmonogamy friendly so was excited to get it. But it's just so awful. The writing is terrible. Maybe it was just a style choice of the author and it's just not the style for me, but everything about it got on my nerves.

I couldn't figure out where it was going, the characters were annoying, and it was boring.

I'm sorry to the author if they read this review, but I really can't fathom where all the high praise comes from. So odd.

[amandabock-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Weetzie Bat creates her own family and home in this candy-punk urban fairy tale. Peppered with real and faux pop-culture references, Weetzie's world is in over-bright technicolor, and you will either love its fancy or hate it. Personally, the rhythm of the language and the unexpected bits of description outweigh the book's faults. The high school where Weetzie meets Dirk disappears as soon as it's convenient, and the gang's movie careers strain all but the most completely suspended sense of reality. But the point of the book is not to be realistic; it shows that we create our own reality, our own lives, our own destinies.

Although there is sex, and drugs, and references to AIDS in the gay community, the atmosphere of magical realism reduces the grittiness to a PG-13 level.

[carlahaunted · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Yes, it's twee, and frantic--and yet, oddly charming. Refreshingly LGBTQ-friendly, and it receives extra points from me for that.

[salsabrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read this 30 years ago and did not get it. It was TOO weird for me and I didn't understand why it was getting such laudatory reviews. Now I can see the wild charm of it. It's L.A. life through sparkly rose-colored glasses, written in the innocent tone of a child with a lot of imagination. The themes are definitely mature and sometimes dark but there are no graphic passages. In the end, no matter how unconventional and diverse Weetzie and her friends are, love is what matters.

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Didn't care for it. Interesting use of language but didn't engage me so I didn't finish it. Life is too short. Next!

[jenn_stringer_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a pleasure to be introduced to a book I should have first read when it came out! I love YA fiction and how I missed this one I don't know, but this amazing short book that covers, the pain of not fitting in, alternate lifestyles, AIDS, childbirth, love and heartbreak in a such a

[abrial2433 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

VOYA Ratings: 3Q, 3PWeetzie Bat is a strange and dream-like world where "love is a dangerous angel" and wishes comes true, mostly anyway. Addressing issues of sexuality and coming of age struggles, Block creates a unique and vivid scene that is beautiful and alien, yet very personal. Weetzie and Dirk are two young kids that simply do not fit in with most of the world around them yet them come to forge their own version of a happy existence amid the palm trees and sunshine of California.At times, this book accurately captures the struggles and scenes for young adults as they make the pilgrimage from adolescence into adulthood while taking occasional forays into a surreal and upside down world. From witch babies, magic curses, and wish granting genies that tell it like it is, this book is a unique creation that is certainly worth the time.

[alicen3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reading Weetzie Bat felt like immersing oneself in someone else's daydream. There was an ethereal quality to the writing that made situation that might have been conflicting and traumatic easy and light. While I do understand that this would appeal to the YA genre and I enjoyed the story greatly I found myself desperate for more of a reaction. After all YA fiction often shapes the way teens view the world and there were never consequences. For instance, when Weetzie magically decides to have a baby and it's as though it all happens on a cloud while angels feed her marshmallows I cringed to myself and wondered if perhaps this is the reality that has brought about the reality in which teens think to themselves having a baby is so easy and just so LOVELY. There are moments in the book that were so beautifully written that I just smiled and let them linger in my mind. Overall I truly enjoyed the book as it is truly beautifully written and has such a unique perspective. However, it's much like a fairy tale. Realism is not the order of the day, and is not to be expect or found within this lovely book.

[johanna_talbott · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was not a huge fan of this book. I'd give it a Q3 because it was an easy, quick read, easy to understand. However I felt like the story line was a little disjointed and it didn't really develop the characters that much. It was just kind of dreamy and disorienting, which may very well have been what the author was going for.I would think this book would have a popularity rating of P2 because at this point, the material is kind of dated and there are a lot of books available that deal with this subject matter in a more interesting way.

[millerloo · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The VOYA popularity rating I assigned this book is 2P, or 'for the YA reader with a special interest in the subject.' I believe its quality is 3Q, 'readable, without serious defects. I found the novel to be fairly enjoyable and it was certainly an easy, brief read. I do not believe that it would have a mass appeal with youth audiences however, even if they were pushed into reading it. For teens who enjoy magical realism or quirky female protagonists this could be a great read. However, the magical realism may be a drawback for some teens. I found myself having a hard time connecting with the protagonist Weetzie because of the surreal quality of the novel. At an age where they are searching for concrete answers about life, the abstract, overly simplified style of the narrative may be dissatisfying. I felt the treatment of teen pregnancy in the novel was also overly casual and idealized.

[lmrayvon · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Review: 3Q, 4PRecently I've heard a lot about this book and the "Dangerous Angels" books. To be honest though, I probably wouldn't have read it if it wasn't for this class. I was pleasantly surpassed, however, by how much I liked it! Although the story was a bit disorienting and hard to follow at times, it only added to the quirkiness of the book and Weetzie. Booktalk:What would you do if you were granted three wishes? For Weetzie, the possibilities are endless. Instead of asking for extravagance or world peace, she asks for something a little more unconventional. Her wish throws her into a life full of adventure and romance, all the while with her best friend Dirk by her side. However, even with three wishes at her disposal, Weetzie must still overcome hardship and loss. With her friends by her side though,Weetzie can overcome anything. Come along with Weetzie’s and her friends as they attempt to navigate their fantastically chaotic world.

[kimba512 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

5Q 4PI liked the whimsical quirkiness of the novel (it often poked fun at itself) and enjoyed how each chapter felt like its own short story--it was complete, had tension, and involved a theme. The style of the prose was both engaging and rapid. It felt like dancing to an unfamiliar song and in an unfamiliar style complete with embarrassing trips, confused fumbling, and awkward rhythm. However, the quirkiness of the story, while charming at moments, can at times be overwhelming and alienating. Scenes in the story where important, life-changing events occur are treated in a shallow rush as if the author is eager to get to the next scene, and Weetzie shrugs off the minor hiccup of trauma with elaborate jazz hands. Nevertheless, Weetzie Bat appeals to readers looking for something different, a lifestyle and character both unique and whimsical with a wise and insightful take on life. A good read for those able to get past its surreal oddness to the gem of life lessons buried within.

[aryno-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4Q 3PThis book took me by surprise. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting when I started reading it, but it wasn't what I got, and that wasn't even remotely a bad thing. I found the book to be engaging, magical, and surprisingly poignant. For a girl with whom I have little in common, (lives in LA, is outgoing, totally different life style) I really identified with Weetzie, which is a testimony to how well her growth as a young woman was written. Some things, I guess, are just universal. The book made me nostalgic for a place I have never been, and I cannot speak highly enough of it for that. My only complaint would be that the genie seemed out of place and broke some of my ability to remain immersed in the story.

[sushiroll-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

5Q, 4P (my VOYA codes) A real day modern genie in sunny LA! But beware, all wishes come with a twist. Weetzie Bat and other characters in this novel are easily lovable and relatable. Teens will be able to relate to the feelings of love, grief, and friendships. Some subjects, however, are very mature and may be needed to be talked about with teens age 12-14.

[crystalmiles-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4Q 4P (my VOYA codes). This brightly-painted view of Los Angeles through the eyes of a teenage girl and her friends that become her family reels you in with their earnest love for each other. This exploration of unconventional family systems and sexuality is an important one. This cast of characters created their own family and in the end it worked out for them. Weetzie Bat also touches on the AIDS epidemic, which is an important subject that rarely is shown in YA literature. All in all this book is a fantasy colored, glittering tale of fiction set in a magical Los Angeles with some heavy and important topics.

[candr-4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4Q, 3PWeetzie Bat is a coming of age story that requires a suspension of disbelief. Weetzie Bat is a young woman who triumphs among life's challenges with the help of her best friend Dirk, her courage to love and three wishes granted to her by a magical genie. Written and taking place in the early eighties, the story follows Weetzie Bat through the last of her high school days and into early adult hood. With divorced and dis-engaged parents, a penchant for the unusual, magical and creative, Weetzie and Dirk forge a friendship and ultimately a unique and shared life. Francesa Lia Block gracefully and magically weaves real life issues such as sex, sexual identity, death and AIDS with a lightness and magic that introduces these heavy real life topics. For young adults, I think this book still has the power to bring such topics to a place of realness and open them up for thought and discussion.

[thea3ploetz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Weetzie Bat tells the story of a young girl growing up in L.A. in the late eighties. The short novel is rapidly-paced – the characters’ lives seem to frequently change course in the space of a few pages. The story itself is bizarre, and more than a little magical. For instance, Weetzie is granted a few magic wishes; one character’s named “My Secret Agent Lover Man;” and a witch makes a brief appearance. But between the surreal experiences, readers also glimpse the much more realistic ones that Weetzie and her friends face – unsupportive parents, grief, working through problems with a partner. I think what I enjoyed most about this book was the sense of family it conveyed. By the end of the book, Weetzie, had found people to love and support her and each other, something she never really got a chance to experience growing up. I think for teens who have a sense of whimsy and a penchant for breaking all the rules, this might be a good pick.5Q, 3P

[madamerazz · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

4Q, 3PThrough skips and jumps, Weetzie Bat describes the life of Weetzie and her friends, Dirk, Duck, Secret Lover Agent Man and Slingster Dog, just to name a few. They face hardships and challenges, but mostly the book highlights the power of their love for each other. Block’s lyrical, stream-of-conscious writing will not appeal to everyone, but those who connect with it will feel as if they’re in on something.

[freeborboleta · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3Q 4POh, Weetzie, Weetzie, how I wish I had read you when I was younger. If I had to describe this book in one word it is "magical". Block’s imagery is wonderful in this book and the whole work made feel like watching The Breakfast Club and 90’s pop videos (strange combination, I know). I loved the way she deals with homosexuality, making it known but not marking it out to be odd or something to be ashamed of. I also loved that the characters had to face hurdles and deal with complicated situations, that is, life wasn’t all rainbows, and it wasn’t overly done. That being said, it seems the characters didn’t go through any significant development and didn’t reflect on or learned from those hurdles and the mistakes they made. While I personally didn’t take offense to the treatment of Native culture within the book, I can see how some people might be easily offended by it. Overall, I found the book to be an easy and fun read. Looking past the couple of issues previously mentioned, I think this book could be very helpful for teens as it deals with big issues (homosexuality, aids, sex, blending of families, divorce, death, etc) with compassion and without judgment and it’s something (non-judgment) many teens need even 25 years after Weetzie’s publication.

[nigelthekid · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

4Q 3P (my VOYA codes) Much of Weetzie Bat felt like a modern fairy tale: it wasn't very long, the characters had fanciful names (Duck, Dirk, My Secret Agent Lover Man, etc.), and there was a sense that reality isn't what it seems like. On the other hand, several aspects felt like satire of the traditional fairy tale. While the characters seem one-dimensional, there are moments when they show that they're human. Also, none of the conflicts in this story seem to have simple resolutions. Because of this, I'd identify it as a modern fairy tale.The characters were well-developed and it was always clear what they're motivations were. Also, the spontaneous conflicts were effectively written. There's a scene where Weetzie Bat is given a lamp and a genie comes out. This scene would normally be out of place in realistic fiction, but was written well enough to be seamless. I would have liked some more description about location since I've personally never been in LA. I would have also preferred the writing to be clearer, but I can see how the text would lose its spontaneity element.Defining young adults as people ages 12-18, this is probably aimed for the 15-18 crowd due to the general vagueness of the text.

[miss_bc-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

5Q 4PWeetzie Bat takes readers on the ride of their lives with this story filled with coming of age issues infused with sprinkles of magic including genies and witches. Weetzie and her friends are discovering themselves, each other, and the world around them. Block's beautiful use of language says so much with so few words that touches readers as they connect with each character. Readers can easily relate to characters with their own experiences with reassurance that there are others out there dealing with these same issues and feelings.

[jen4k · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Weetzie Bat addresses the realities of growing up through the eyes of carefree Weetzie Bat. The book is magical; Weetzie seems to go from teen to adult, but her age is never addressed. Cherokee is somehow the embodiment of all 4 of her parents, and infidelity is forgiven so that love may win out. Weetzie does experience tragedy, but handles it in stride. I believe this book appeals to teen readers because Weetzie lives life with almost no consequences, though her actions are sometimes questionable at best. Block surrounds Weetzie with adult realities of divorce, death, and disease, but does not let Weetzie fall into these traps. She shows her readers it is possible to overcome anything when you truly love someone.Official ratings: 3Q, 4P

[feministgiles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

5Q, 5PThis book really means a lot to me. It's one of the first YA books I ever read growing up and it really helped me understand that unconventional families are okay (being from an unconventional family, that means quite a lot). I love the fairy tale movement of each scene and how quickly major topics (HIV/AIDS, polyamory, premarital sex, homosexuality, drug abuse, and death/grief) are introduced and disseminated. As a kid reading this, I though Weetzie was really grown up for her age and that helped me connect with her more deeply, because I myself had to grow up pretty fast being from a single parent family with an immigrant parent. Reading it as an adult, it's so obvious that Weetzie made a lot of immature missteps and really was just a kid pretending to be an adult. The ode to Jamaica in the Jah-Love chapter really touches my spirit. I remember telling my mom about it and her criticizing it for being a superficial representation of her country, but I didn't care because I thought it was awesome. Block's language is *magical* and dreamy and makes me feel like there's a constant stream of smoke and fog surrounding me when I read.

[hollyherndon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If Wes Anderson wrote novels, they would read like Weetzie Bat. Whimsical and somewhat cartoonish images draw the reader into Weetzie's perspective. The dialogue is quirky and laconically earnest in delivery. The themes are weighty, and the characters are well-developed. Also, like Wes Anderson films, this novel has all the elements of a fairy tale, plus a relevance to modern life and weighty themes. It will inspire discussions of alternative families, love, and sex.I wavered between 4Q and 5Q for quality because it is a little gem of a book. The language was simple and the book was thin by my 10-year-old's standards, so I ultimately went with a 4Q. For popularity, I chose a 3P, because many young adults may feel uncomfortable with the content, and may not connect with the characters.

[tvickrey-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A great introduction to the idea of magical realism. I'm not generally a fan of this type of fiction but the small touches that Block incorporated into this story helped create a better image of this dream world Weetzie and her family inhabit. The characters in this novel are strong representations of alternative family dynamics and the relationships people create with one another.